My 5 Monkeys

Waves Hello

2023-11-16T16:08:00.000-08:00

Just waving hello and I had no idea that I could lose this blog since I haven't been blogging much.

Just some images from life over the past 6 months

2022-01-20T08:13:00.002-08:00

Its been a busy year and these are some pictures from my slice of life. Its been interesting with the loss of my mom and a wedding this past year.

Get Real and Get In

2022-01-20T08:09:00.000-08:00

I read this book and really enjoyed the message about becoming one's authentic self . My daughter also read this book too and enjoyed the messages of charting her own path .

Thanks to st. martins press for the book

Been busy lately

2021-08-23T10:32:00.004-07:00

Here are just a few pictures of life happening around here .

Moving

2020-07-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

Yes we are moving to the hills. Its been a long time coming. We are moving to a more rural area and making new adventures. I have been reading but its been sporadic since covid-19. I have been working from home and helping my kids with their school work and helping kids for my job. I have no idea how the school year is going to look like , but I know that distance learning isn't for everyone. Granted I did it for my BS Science

degree but its tough . My girls missed their friends.

I did read the newest Shannon Hale book and enjoyed it very much. I liked that she was able to go into books and felt a part of the story.

Since covid-19 I have been using the app: Marco Polo . Its great to see people and have conversations and view them when I'm available. Just some photo's from the past year.

Cursebreakers

2019-07-30T07:18:00.002-07:00

I just wanted to say that this series is amazing and I want to read the next book of A heart so fierce and Broken. I also have been reading her comtemp books by this author and love it. Just wanted to say that I'm a fan.

I finally did it

2019-04-16T11:29:00.002-07:00

It was a long journey and doing it online , I had lots of busy work. I also had discussion board questions to answer. But I did it and got my Bachelor's degree in Public Health and health promotion . I love that this is such a big field. I have done this online schooling since 2016. But I realized that it has taken me 27 years from my initial high school graduation to get this degree. I'm glad that I was able to show my kids that I can do it. I have had some great teachers and great classes. I have also had some bad groups with and having to take a math class more than once. I was very grateful that I had that experience to walk for my degree.

Hey All - I'm still here

2018-12-20T14:27:00.001-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted in some time. I have been busy with kids and schooling. I have one more semester til I graduate with my bachelors degree in public health and health promotion. My son is now a senior in High school. Our oldest daughter is a freshman in college. I have a freshman and 8th grade and 6th graders. We have all been busy with life . I have been reading books for school mostly. I read this book for my international health class and loved it. I also completed an internship . So this is update of sorts.

Not now Not ever Book Review

2017-11-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Book information: Elliot Gabaroche is very clear on what she isn't going to do this summer.

1. She isn't going to stay home in Sacramento, where she'd have to sit through her stepmother's sixth community theater production of The Importance of Being Earnest.

2. She isn't going to mock trial camp at UCLA.

3. And she certainly isn't going to the Air Force summer program on her mom's base in Colorado Springs. As cool as it would be to live-action-role-play Ender's Game, Ellie's seen three generations of her family go through USAF boot camp up close, and she knows that it's much less Luke/Yoda/"feel the force," and much more one hundred push-ups on three days of no sleep. And that just isn't appealing, no matter how many Xenomorphs from Alien she'd be able to defeat afterward.

What she is going to do is pack up her determination, her favorite Octavia Butler novels, and her Jordan's, and go to summer camp. Specifically, a cutthroat academic-decathlon-like competition for a full scholarship to Rayevich College, the only college with a Science Fiction Literature program. And she's going to start over as Ever Lawrence, on her own terms, without the shadow of all her family’s expectations. Because why do what’s expected of you when you can fight other genius nerds to the death for a shot at the dream you’re sure your family will consider a complete waste of time?

This summer's going to be great.

About the author:

LILY ANDERSON is an elementary school librarian and Melvil Dewey fangirl with an ever-growing collection of musical theater tattoos and Harry Potter ephemera. She lives in Northern California. She is also the author of The Only Thing Worse than Me Is You.

My review of this book :

I just finished this book last night. I enjoyed that while she did break some rules and trying to find herself. She also found love with Brandon who happens to live in the state of Oregon. He also happens to use a typewriter for his notes. I enjoyed the team aspect of this book and trying to get a scholarship. I loved her friends and the many other friends that Brandon knew from this school. Overall I stayed up late reading this book and would recommend it. I enjoyed that this book took place in Sacramento which is near me. I did love all the nerd references from Ready player one to Battle star Galactic. Great and fun book.

Book Review = B+
stand alone
Local author
St. Martin's Press

What's been happening here - BTS edition

2017-08-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

First day of school pictures

Spending time with cousins

At girls camp on 4th level hike

my 1st year

School has started back up over here. Oldest daughter is still looking for a job and she is Senior. Its been tough . Other than that she has been busy with school with link crew and yearbook. Son is a junior and has his permit. So he has been busy driving too. Middle school daughters are enjoying school and having fun. They both had fun at girls camp. Youngest daughter is elementary school and she has the teacher that I wanted her to have. :)

I'm now a Senior at BYU Idaho. I have about 5 quarters til I'm done. Yeah !! I changed my major to Public Health and very happy about this field . This summer we have been able to see family and just swim a lot. So hubby has been working hard at his job. I'm still working part time .

I read Nyxia and loved it. It was like a hunger Games in space.

BookByte Review

2017-07-25T10:12:00.001-07:00

Bookbyte website Review

I have to take a math class for this coming semester. I wanted to make sure that Book Byte had it. In fact, they did and they even do rentals. I can if I choose to rent this book or buy it. Decisions Decisions. I have been an online student for the past 3 semesters at BYU Idaho.
I have had buy books for my classes but many of them have been on the site. I had to buy a

grammar book for one of my classes. I had to buy for this past semester Medical Terminology and a Nutrition book.
The Nutrition book was current for the semester but I was able to read all the information regarding the different topics.

This is my cart with this book in the cart. It is at 101. 89 and sadly there are no rentals for this book. I would have to go
Amazon to rent the book. I do think that their prices for the book are comparable to Amazon. I'm not too sure of who
I would end up using. This is mainly a textbook selling and buying the site. It is comparable to Amazon.

https://www.bookbyte.com/textbooks/using-and-understanding-mathematics-a-quantitative/9780321914620-0321914627

http://bookbyte.pxf.io/c/391955/361954/5344-- My link if you need to get books for school or for buying school books.

Be sure to check it out.

BBKEEP8

What I have been up to Lately

2017-06-09T14:57:00.002-07:00

Those are the classes that I'm taking now and I'm doing okay in them. Just some photos from school and my birthday. I haven't really read much in the way of good books. I'm reading Medical Terminology, Nutrition, and that's really most of my reading lately. I already have my fall classes and hoping to do it 5 quarters and then I will have my degree in Public Health. Yes, I changed my major and much happy with this choice. I'm still a Junior and will be done hopefully when our son is a Senior.

My kids have all moved up a grade and now we have a Senior, Junior, 8th, 7th, and 5th grade now. I can't believe how much they all have grown and how fast time flies.

Lately

2016-12-15T20:32:00.001-08:00

Well I finished my 1st quarter at BYU Idaho and I think that I did okay. I'm still waiting to hear back about some class finals. I enjoyed my classes and I think that I learned a

lot during the past couple months.

I've been busy working part time too.

I'm so excited for the next book in the Others series. I love Meg and Simon

What I have been up to lately

2016-10-01T22:51:00.002-07:00

Well I have been working part time and I'm going to school at BYU Idaho and taking 11 credits. That means I have 4 classes and I have been doing homework. I have been teaching my lovely class at church. We have been busy with life and activities . I have been reading books and just enjoying them. I found a new snack that I love -- Terra chips . OMG those are so yummy.

Just some pictures of life so far with my kids

Lucas Light Foot Book signing

2016-08-10T18:09:00.000-07:00

I was able to see my dad and my nephew at their book signing. Its a great story for kids and teaches them a great message. These books were created by my nephew Luke who wanted something more from his books. They are now on their 3rd book.

Dreaming Death blog tour book review

2016-02-09T02:00:00.000-08:00

Dreaming Death
Roc
Feb 1
adult/YA
1st in a series

Mikael can see the deaths when he dreams. Shironne can see the details when he dreams. She is blind , and considered a child. They both end up helping the Cronal . There are some ritualistic killings happening in this city. They both finally meet up at the 50% mark of the book, and what a connection. She is young , and he is much older. She can see other's secrets when she touches others. Mikael is friends with Kai, Elisabet, Deborah who also end helping them solve the mystery.

There is a connection between them and they are bound to one another. She helps him with his dreams, and she is really good at keeping secrets. She knows about her mother secrets & many others. I loved this book and the cast of Characters. OMG that ending . I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Book Review= B+

Thanks so much for Roc for the book and this is my Honest Review

Merry Christmas

2015-12-22T10:26:00.000-08:00

Well I've completed 1 quarter at BYU-I through the Pathway's and I loved it so far. Next up is math and the Book Of Mormon class. I enjoyed so much doing the Becoming project. I've been working at Macy's lately. I've also been working on the Family Reunion with my cousin. We also lost my Grandpa Bradshaw this past year.
Kids are all doing well and getting bigger every day. My daughter finished up her Personal Progress for Young Women and will be getting that award soon. I will be having 2 girls going to Girls Camp this next year.

We have all been busy with church, school and life.

Wishing your family a very merry Christmas

Dare me Blitz

2015-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Goodreads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13645584-dare-meBOOK INFORMATION: DARE ME by Jennifer Probst November 10, 2015 Steele Brothers series, #3 DARE ME Synopsis: As a military leader back from the war, and the youngest of his two dominant older brothers, Rafe Steele struggles with a secret. He craves surrender in the bedroom under the controlled hands of a Dominatrix. When his brothers offer him an experience through the exclusive agency, FANTA-C, he jumps at the chance to experience one perfect night. After one experiment, he’s sure he’ll be able to move on. But he never counted on Summer Preston to strip down his walls and make him want more so much more... An elementary school teacher with a girl next door, fresh face, Summer is constantly barraged by men who want to take care of her, but she longs to meet a strong man who can handle her dominant ways in the bedroom. Trapped in her own storybook life, she books a one-night stand to finally experience her fantasy. But she never counted on Rafe Steele to push her boundaries in both the bedroom...and her heart. GIVEAWAY: Win a signed paperback of SEARCHING FOR ALWAYS and SUMMER SINS by Jennifer Probst. US Only. Rafflecopter

: a Rafflecopter giveaway

AUTHOR INFORMATION: Jennifer Probst - Bio: Jennifer Probst wrote her first book at twelve years old. She bound it in a folder, read it to her classmates, and hasn’t stopped writing since. She took a short hiatus to get married, get pregnant, buy a house, get pregnant again, pursue a master’s in English Literature, and rescue two shelter dogs. Now she is writing again. She makes her home in Upstate New York with the whole crew. Her sons keep her active, stressed, joyous, and sad her house will never be truly clean. She is the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of sexy and erotic contemporary romance. She was thrilled her book, The Marriage Bargain, was ranked #6 on Amazon's Best Books for 2012. She loves hearing from readers. Visit her website for updates on new releases and her street team at www.jenniferprobst.com.

Waves hello

2015-08-20T16:56:00.004-07:00

swimming

after one of our walks

ready to watch fireworks

1st day of school group shot

Just waving hello and sharing some of our summer pictures of fun. I will going back to school and I found a new part time job. I have been walking a lot more since I got a fitbit. Here is the book I am most excited for which I love the series. If you haven't read it , I highly recommend it.

So Long Farewell to Blogging

2015-06-06T17:22:00.000-07:00

It's time to close up the blog and I am burnt out. I am busy with school and working. I also want to enjoy reading books. I know that I have done this before but this time it's REALLY Happening. I will still be on Facebook, goodreads, and Instagram, and twitter. But other than that ...It's time.

Bellavoxbox review

2015-06-02T14:45:00.000-07:00

I was lucky to try all these items. Some I loved and others didn't work out.

I enjoyed the Dove candies . I loved the Rimmel mascara and the eco tools brush. The lipstick was pretty bright. Overall I enjoyed the box. Thanks again for the Influenster for letting trying it. This is my Honest review .

Mini reviews- Dumplin, What we saw, Uprooted , Invasion of the Tearling, Dreamland

2015-05-27T05:46:00.000-07:00

The feelings and best book I have read so far. I loved slight romance and the girls friendship with the other outcasts and doing a pageant. She grows up during this book and has even more confidence.

Harperteen
Sept 15
Book Review= A

There is a party and Kate gets a ride home from Ben, who happens to have had a crush on her . She is also pretty drunk and she left the party early. This is the after math of a rape of someone she knows and the video from the party. I loved the Geology references and how there was good discussion about consent and dress & alcohol. I loved that Kate had issues and even discussed this with her brother about slut shaming girls. Seriously this book was amazing. It was a small town so this also brings up the football team members & girl involved and their reactions to school & town. Amazing book

Harperteen
Sept 22
Book Review = B+

OMG this book had a strong female who didn't always fit in and got dirty. She was picked by the dragon, and when danger happens to her town. She does all that she can. I even adored the girls friendship and there was some romance. This book lived up to the hype and easily my favorite book of 2015. I will recommend this book and I could see the Beauty/Beast aspect :) This is one book to reread again.

Del Ray
May 19
Book Review= A

um nope. present day mixed in with keslea world. issues with red queen. hardly any fetch in book. more history of how this new world came to be. but there seemed to issues brought up ie beauty, cutting, pregnancy , utopia, socialism, books. I also didn't like her-- she has changed so much over this book and this isn't all of it. She gets pretty. UGH I wished that I liked it more or even her at all. I am done with this series.

Harper
June 9
Book Review= D

loved this romance and Dallas finding his way in the music world. 2nd chance love with someone.

William Morrow
June 16
book Review= B

wow this book was crazy good. I loved her friends and sorta reminded me of inception with dreams. Seriously good :)

Harperteen
Sept 22
Book Review= B

Thanks to the publishers and these are my honest Reviews

Book Reviews- Hold Me like a Breath, Black Iris, The Devil you know , Every Last word, All for you

2015-05-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

Penelope receives transfusions and very delicate. She has had a crush on gabe for the longest time. Carter is her brother and in the family business. They are both part of the body transplant Crime families. She finds out some of Carter secrets , and she also wants some real answers.
She is going to run away with Gabe , and she is dealing with the loss of her brother Carter and other family members.
She is on her own surviving , and starts experiencing life. She also meets and falls in love with someone.

This was a good story and it was the Princess and the Pea retelling . She does end up growing up but it took a while. I didn't like the insta romance. .

Book Review= B
Bloomsbury
May 15

I wanted to like this story and romance but this book seemed to be more about revenge and very hate filled. I do think that this book was different in that the narrator talked to the reader. I did enjoy the romance between both people and at separate times. I just wished that I loved it more , but it was hate filled for me.

Book Review= C
Artia
April 28

Sam is OCD and this year she wants to be different. She has been friends with the crazy eights since kindergarten. She is feeling on the outside , and no one knows about her OCD.
She meets Caroline who helps her break out of her shell. She joins a poetry club and isn't welcomed at first. She also hurt AJ ( the guy in charge). She realizes what she has done to AJ and apologizes to him. She also starts writing poems which help with the OCD. Sam is also a swimmer and this helps her out too.
Sam makes mistakes but she also talks to her therapist who helps her. She also starts sliding away from her friends and making new ones and finds love. AJ asks her to be blunt & even explains about his songs.

This book was amazing and I learned about OCD and more about their thinking. I loved the romance aspect of this book and the many wonderful poems through out this book.

Book Revew= B+
Disney
June 16

Cadia wells has been taking care of her family for the past 3 years since her mom's death. She goes to the camp ground with her friends. She meets Noah and Matt who are driving the states. She finds an attraction to Noah and they start kissing. She decides to go with them to their next place with Lindsay. She is also attracted to Matt too. Some of her friends end up getting hurt. She also goes to a psychic who gives her a reading. . Many of these things end up coming to pass. Arcadia has to make some tough choices of who she trusts.

Wow what a fast moving book. Arcadia didn't always make the best choices during this book. I can see why she needed a break. I loved that this book had memories mixed through the story. I also loved the romance with one of the boys. This author has become an auto read for me.

Book Review= B
Bloomsbury
June 2

Celie is working as a chocalatier in Dom's kitchen. She has had a crush on Joss for the longest time. He goes off to fight with the Legionnaires for the past 5 years. He finds her and he wants to woo her , but she has changed. She is still heart broken over his leaving. Dom hasn't married Jaime yet but they do play an important role with these two.
Celie and Joss have communication issues , and he has plans for them. He wants to be the hero , but the princess has recued herself and they both end up saving each other.

I adore this new series and loved the romance between them. I wanted to smack Joss a couple of times just to make sure that he talked things out. I loved that they both changed.

Book Review= B
author
May 5

Hello I love you

2015-05-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

St. Martins Press
Jun 9
stand alone
Book Review= B+

Grace is very far from home. She is also from a music family. She chooses to go to school in Korea. She gets a room mate named Sophie, and she doesn't get along with her brother Jason. Jason happens to part of a band and very famous.

Jason has a messed up family just like Grace. He is writing a song and she helps him with it. She does has some music abilitiy but not playing a thing. Grace does keep in contact with her family through emails and texts.

Things slowly change for them over the course of the year. She slowly starts to fall in love with him. He is also tutoring her in Korean.

Very cute romance and I stayed up late finishing this one. I did get a Anna and the French kiss vibe from this book. I did enjoy the Kpop and Kdrama's through out this book. I even learned some Korean words too.

mini reviews -- undertow, between the notes, a sense of the infinite , the improbable theory of Ana & Zak, Encore to an empty room

2015-05-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

Lyric has some secrets . She also lives near Coney Island where some Alpha's came up almost 3 years ago and they will be going to school with them. Bex is her best friend and she is having some family issues. Lyric helps her out along with Fathom who is the prince. Fathom becomes her friend, and they help each other out.

There is some romance and I loved seeing the family support. I do hope that there is another book in this series. I stayed up late reading this book , and it was so much better than I thought it would be.

B+

May 5
HMH

This is the 2nd book in the series . Wow what a great 2nd book and no slump. I did enjoy this mystery and I can't wait to see how it ends. I loved that they are working on music and their relationship along with college choices.

Book Review= B
Katherine Tegan
April 16

I enjoyed this book and I was able to get into this one. She loves the nature and loves to hike. She has a busy year with friends , and even with many relationships. This is a year of growth and change for her.

Book Review= B
Katherine Tegan
May 19

Ana and Zak don't get along. Ana is uptight and very charmed life. But her home life isn't perfect and because of her sister's mistake , she can't do anything. Her brother is also on the quiz team. Zak doesn't want to be on the team, but he ends up making friends with ana's brother. Ana and Zak end up chasing her brother through out the night at a comic convention. During the night , their feelings change for one another and they end up getting into some trouble. This story happens over 1 day and night and I loved Ana was smart and she ended up loosening up , and Zak ended up having some goals.
Very cute book and fast read

B+

Katherine Tegan
May 19

Ivy and family are downsizing to another area. She loves to play the piano. She also doesn't want her friends to know that she moved. She finds out that Lennie lives there too & they aren't getting along. She finds a hidden room with books and begins talking with someone. Her brother is also having some autism issues.
Things aren't what they seem , and I loved the growth that Ivy makes with her family, friends, and even Lennie. Cute romance and it did bring up some serious issues about food, being poor, getting food from a food bank, and even autism.

Book Review= B+
Harper Teen
June 16